San kuo; or, Romance of the three kingdoms (volume 1 of 2)Luo, Guanzhong
History
San kuo; or, Romance of the three kingdoms (volume 1 of 2)
Luo, Guanzhong
China -- History -- Three kingdoms, 220-265 -- Fiction
He was surrounded on all sides by enemies. By and by, looking toward
his city, he saw the glow of fire. It meant that the traitors, who had
come in to surrender, had opened the gate and the enemy had gone in in
force. They had made the fires in order to perplex and distress Kuan Yü
and indeed the sight saddened him.
In the night he made efforts to escape from the hill, but every attempt
was checked by flights of arrows. At daybreak he prepared for one more
effort, but before moving he saw a horseman riding up at full speed and
presently discerned Chang Liao. When within speaking distance, Kuan Yü
said, “Are you come to fight me, Wên-yüan?”
“No,” replied Chang Liao. “I am come to see you because of our old
friendship.”
Wherefore he threw aside his sword, dismounted and came forward
saluting. And the two sat down.
“Then naturally you have come to talk me over,” said Kuan Yü.
“Not so;” said Chang Liao. “Sometime ago you saved me; can I help
saving you?”
“Then you desire to help me.”
“Not exactly that,” replied Chang.
“Then what are you doing here if you have not come to help me?”
“Nothing is known of the fate of your elder brother, nor whether your
younger brother is alive or dead. Last night your city fell into the
hands of Tsʻao Tsʻao, but neither soldiers nor people were harmed and a
special guard was set over the family of Yüan-tê lest they should be
alarmed. I came to tell you how well they had been treated.”
“This is certainly talking me over,” said Kuan testily. “Though escape
is impossible yet I am not perturbed. I look upon death as going home.
You had better depart quickly and let me go down and begin the struggle
again.”
“Surely you must know everybody will ridicule you when they hear of
this,” said Chang, laughing loud.
“I shall die for loyalty and righteousness. Who will laugh?” said Kuan.
“You would be guilty of three faults if you died.”
“Tell me them,” said Kuan.
“First of all you and your elder brother pledged yourselves in the
Peach Garden to die or to live together. Now your brother has been
defeated and you want to fight to the death. Therefore, if your brother
appear again by and by and wants your help, he will seek it in vain. Is
this anything else than betraying the Peach Garden oath? Secondly you
are in charge of your brother’s family and, if you fought and died, the
two women would be left forlorn and without a protector. That would be
a betrayal of trust. Thirdly your military skill stands out conspicuous
and will go down in history. If you do not aid your brother in his
noble attempt to maintain the Dynasty then all your labours and
sufferings will have been spent to win a worthless reputation as a
valiant fool. Where is the sense in that? I feel it my duty to point
out these three faults to you.”
Kuan Yü remained silent and thought for some time. Then he said, “You
have spoken of my three faults. What do you desire?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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